EXTRACTION OF AGAR FROM SEAWEED. Jonah Wang and Ben Kachian. The objective of this experiment was to measure the efficiency and purity of agar of the extraction of agar produced from seaweed in a lab environment. A solution of seaweed and water was continually heated until most of the excess water had been evaporated, leaving a solution of primarily agar and other constituents of agar. Finally, the solution was filtered to remove the remaining traces of seaweed using a filtration apparatus attached to the faucet. The results of the experiment show that the product found in the experiment was not a pure form of agar. The agar plates found in the science room were light yellow to transparent in color while the agar produced was a dark amber color. Additionally, the theoretical yield of agar from seaweed is 1%, which equates to around 0.06 grams, when 3.35 grams was yielded, about a 5583% error. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the filtration process did not completely remove the other polysaccharides such as carrageenans, another polysaccharide found in seaweeds, which could consequently cause the mass to greatly increase. The production of purer agar could significantly minimize errors and maximize potential results of experiments. Future research could be done to examine the differences between carrageenans and agar in order to create different methods for extracting only agar from seaweed.Key words: Agar, extraction, filtration, carrageenan, gel
Hypothesis: Different types of agar yields will be deterred from different seaweed species, with red algae species featuring the highest yield because of its gelatinous cellular nature.
Agar is defined as a "hydrophilic, homogeneous, and noncrystalline substance" and can be extracted from some seaweed species. Agar is most commonly distilled from agrophyte red algae, and is often used in experiments involving microbiology. Removing agar from seaweed is no easy process; many steps and concise procedure adherence mar the process of agar deduction. The distillation of agar from seaweed in a lab environment is particularly difficult because agar is usually produced in a factory with complex machinery. Agar has a property called hysteresis, which causes the form of a substance to differ on whether or not it has been heated previously. This means that agar has to be heated before it will gel, and must be hot when filtered in order to obtain the best results.
- Seaweed must be spread, pressed, and dried. - The dry seaweed then needs to be ground into a fine powder. Grind until white. - Mix the ground seaweed with water and heat until it boils (this is the most arduous part of the process) - A few warnings: - This process will probably take around 40+ minutes - If the solution begins to bubble rapidly, turn off the gas otherwise the beaker will almost instantly overflow - This experiment is not highly recommended as it will undoubtedly damage whatever self-esteem you might have left - Then use a buchner funnel set-up to filter the solution (try to filter most of it while it is still hot) - Collect this distillate, place it in a separate beaker or flask, and allow it to cool over night - Even if the distillate does not gel, it can be reheated to form a gel (once again watch out for overflow) - Agar can be dried to form a thick paste or even a cracked and hard substance and also can be rehydrated to become a gel once more.
Second Trial -- (Substituted Anayaki Nori seaweed for Dulse powder and ran a side trial using nutrient agar powder) For Side experiment - Mix nutrient agar powder and water (ratio of 23 g of powder per Liter of water) - Heat until it boils - Allow it to cool over night
For Dulse Powder - Mix together Dulse powder with water and vinegar - Heat until the mixture boils - Use a Buchner funnel apparatus to filter out the powder - Every so often, use a glass rod or a metal scoop to move the powder to one side in order to allow filtration - Allow product to cool overnight
Safety Information:Agar is a completely harmless material. When properly distilled, agar is even edible. I do not expect any dangers in the process in this lab. Testing agar's conductivity might present the danger of shock to human tissue. However, this experiment is not highly recommended as it will undoubtedly damage whatever self-esteem you might have left.
Other Information: Agar, a gelatinous substance which can be derived from within the cell walls of some algae species, can be utilized for a vast variety of purposes. Its scientific usage is mostly that it can serve as a helpful platform for bacteria culturing. Its ability to foster the cultivation of bacteria and other microbes makes it an important tool for modern scientists.
EXTRACTION OF AGAR FROM ANAYAKI NORI. Jonah Wang and Ben Kachian. The objective of this experiment was to measure the efficiency and purity of agar of the extraction of produced from seaweed in a lab environment. By creating a solution was continually heated until most of the excess water had been evaporated, leaving a solution of primarily agar and other constituents of agar. Finally, the solution was filtered to remove the remaining traces of seaweed using a filtration apparatus attached to the faucet. The results of the experiment show that the product found in the experiment was not a pure form of agar. The agar plates found in the science room were light yellow to transparent in color while the agar produced was a dark amber color. Additionally, the theoretical yield of agar from seaweed is 1%, which equates to around 0.06 grams, when 3.35 grams was yielded, about a 5583% error. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the filtration process did not completely remove the other polysaccharides such as carrageenans, another polysaccharide found in seaweeds, which could consequently cause the mass to greatly increase. Agar is widely used as a growth agent for bacteria and plant biology, in cooking, molecular biology, and electrochemistry. Therefore, the production of purer agar could significantly minimize error or maximize the potential results of experiments. Key words: Agar, extraction, filtration, carrageenan, gel
Chemistry Concept: Exothermic Chemistry
Abstract:
Hypothesis: Different types of agar yields will be deterred from different seaweed species, with red algae species featuring the highest yield because of its gelatinous cellular nature.
Journal Article: http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search/display.do?f=1988/XF/XF88042.xml;XF887421188
Lab Procedure:
Agar is defined as a "hydrophilic, homogeneous, and noncrystalline substance" and can be extracted from some seaweed species. Agar is most commonly distilled from agrophyte red algae, and is often used in experiments involving microbiology. Removing agar from seaweed is no easy process; many steps and concise procedure adherence mar the process of agar deduction. The distillation of agar from seaweed in a lab environment is particularly difficult because agar is usually produced in a factory with complex machinery. Agar has a property called hysteresis, which causes the form of a substance to differ on whether or not it has been heated previously. This means that agar has to be heated before it will gel, and must be hot when filtered in order to obtain the best results.
- Seaweed must be spread, pressed, and dried.
- The dry seaweed then needs to be ground into a fine powder. Grind until white.
- Mix the ground seaweed with water and heat until it boils (this is the most arduous part of the process)
- A few warnings:
- This process will probably take around 40+ minutes
- If the solution begins to bubble rapidly, turn off the gas otherwise the beaker will almost instantly overflow
- This experiment is not highly recommended as it will undoubtedly damage whatever self-esteem you might have left
- Then use a buchner funnel set-up to filter the solution (try to filter most of it while it is still hot)
- Collect this distillate, place it in a separate beaker or flask, and allow it to cool over night
- Even if the distillate does not gel, it can be reheated to form a gel (once again watch out for overflow)
- Agar can be dried to form a thick paste or even a cracked and hard substance and also can be rehydrated to become a gel once more.
Second Trial -- (Substituted Anayaki Nori seaweed for Dulse powder and ran a side trial using nutrient agar powder)
For Side experiment
- Mix nutrient agar powder and water (ratio of 23 g of powder per Liter of water)
- Heat until it boils
- Allow it to cool over night
For Dulse Powder
- Mix together Dulse powder with water and vinegar
- Heat until the mixture boils
- Use a Buchner funnel apparatus to filter out the powder
- Every so often, use a glass rod or a metal scoop to move the powder to one side in order to allow filtration
- Allow product to cool overnight
Safety Information:Agar is a completely harmless material. When properly distilled, agar is even edible. I do not expect any dangers in the process in this lab. Testing agar's conductivity might present the danger of shock to human tissue. However, this experiment is not highly recommended as it will undoubtedly damage whatever self-esteem you might have left.
Other Information:
Agar, a gelatinous substance which can be derived from within the cell walls of some algae species, can be utilized for a vast variety of purposes. Its scientific usage is mostly that it can serve as a helpful platform for bacteria culturing. Its ability to foster the cultivation of bacteria and other microbes makes it an important tool for modern scientists.